History is not simply about dates and facts. It is about ways to interpret and understand the past. History reaches broadly into different aspects of the human experience and considers societies and civilisations across a range of periods and continents. This makes history one of the most exciting and challenging disciplines to study at university. In this major you will have the opportunity to study across several historical fields and consider what has come before us, and you will be provided with new ways to make sense of the world today. By considering the past, you will better understand the current shape of societies and states across the globe, and issues facing individuals and social groups. For example, how did the notion of democracy arise? Why do most of us live in cities? How have ideas and experiences of family or sexuality changed? Why are certain countries and communities implacable enemies?

You will experience the various public uses and applications of history, including digital and online applications. Through elective units, you can choose to pursue one of the following streams of study:

American history

Asian history

Australian history

European history

Global history

Medieval/Renaissance history

Availability

History is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a minor, major or extended major, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Caulfield and Clayton as a major.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

understand current philosophical, historical and cultural debates about the nature of history as a discipline and a discourse

understand how historians can shape the present and the future

think reflectively about different forms or genre of historical representation

** This unit can be counted as a gateway unit towards history or religious studies but not both.

Note: Students who have completed a pair of the following level 1 units may count them as alternative gateway units but they cannot be counted as gateway units towards both history and another area of study:

Note: Students who have completed a pair of the following level 1 units may count them as alternative gateway units but they cannot be counted as gateway units towards both History and another area of study:

ATS1960 Conflict and coexistence 2: Jews, Christians and Muslims in the modern world

**This unit can be counted as a gateway unit towards history or religious studies but not both.

b. Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major except List B. It is a highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.

Extended major requirements (72 points)

No more than 24 points at level 1 may be credited to the extended major and at least 24 points must be at level 3.

Students complete:

a. The requirements for the major in History (48 points)

b. One additional capstone unit (6 points) including at least one of ATS3933 or ATS3092 if not already completed

c. Three units (18 points) from the remaining cornerstone or capstone units from the major or Elective list A or B, ensuring that you will have at least four level 3 units to credit to the extended major.

Elective list

Students can choose to pursue a particular stream of history study. To plan a stream pathway through the history major refer to the History program website: